CNA Issues

Ummm...you aren't there to take commands from the CNAs. Did you notify your clinical instructor of these two examples you gave us? And what in the world was wrong with the CNA who had time to constantly interrupt you but couldn't provide care for the patient?? As for breaks, if you're being bombarded by CNA demands, you get away by saying "I'm sorry, but there is something I need to discuss with my instructor."

So I am a first semester nursing student and I am doing clinical 2 days a week in a nursing home. Most of the CNA's are VERY rude to us and refuse to do their jobs. For example, a patient was being discharged and her husband had the paperwork done and he and other family member were waiting for someone to wheel her out to their van. I asked ALL the CNA's on my unit including the one responsible for the patient and NONE of them would help me. So becaue the family was waiting, and they had a three hour drive ahead of them, myself and another student from my class wheeled her out. When we realized that we couldn't life her enough to get her in the van, and didn't want to risk it, I went back inside to ask for help again and still none of the CNA's would help. I found two LPN's who finally helped me and said that it was policy for an employee of the facility to be there at discharge. When I explained that nobody would help they were upset and said they would have a meeting with them and tell them not to take advantage of the students.

Well today, I had two patients and I was busy helping other students in our class who needed help. I spent alot of time assisting the physical therapist and another student give a bath to an obese woman and get her up and dressed. Nobody should risk their back trying to lift a 400 pound patient alone!!! Well the whole morning a CNA kept interupting me while I was helping with patients and asking me to do HER patient right away because she would get in trouble if the patient wasnt done by 10:30. Very politely I told her I would as soon as I finished what I was doing. She continued the constant interuptions. She started telling me she had to go to lunch and I had to get to her patient. So finally I did get to her patient who was totally immoble and unresponsive and had a peg tube. I needed help with her basic care like bathing, making sure someone was on the other side of the bed when I had to roll her over etc. and the CNA was nowhere to be found!!! I got another classmate to help and never got to eat.

Is this normal? We arrive at clinicals at 6:45, leave at 1:30 and do not get time to eat or drink? By the time I leave I am so dehydrated and have low blood sugar. I certainly cannot be my best for patients under those conditions!!! Also if I am not hydrated and haven't eaten I start to feel lightheaded around 11 or 12. What can I do about this??? Our instructor said we can have 10 minutes but if she is nowhere to be found and the CNA's are throwing commands at us how can we get away for 10 minutes? And they are so rude!!!

Any suggestions would be appreciated:)

I found the CNA's at the Nursing Home during my clinicals rude and tried to take advantage of the students. In the hospital I have found 95% of them to be great and thankful to have the help.

That said, stand up for yourself. You are not under the direction of the CNA. The CNA shouldn't be delegating work to you. Do what you have to do in order to get through the rotation. If you don't stand up for yourself they will continue to walk all over you. When you're ready to take your break, let them know you are taking your break. I had one aide suggest for me to go get coffee, I put him in his place, than my instructor did as well. I never had problems with him again. You are there to learn how to be a nurse, part of being a good nurse is having the basic foundations that you will get from doing your share of the CNA work, you will not always have an aide. You are not there as a personal assistant to the aides. Set your boundaries.

It is normal in some facilities.

Some nursing homes basically allow the CNAs to run the place. The CNA answers to no one and does whatever she wants. This is what leads to horrific stories of patient abuse by CNAs. My nursing home was the same. I once saw a CNA verbally berate an LPN right at the nurse's station. I saw another eat food right of a resident's tray. All they received were warnings.

All you can do is the best you can. As you can see, the CNAs are often not going to help you at all so suck it up and get it done.